Successful Teamwork in Business

You’ve heard it all before…“Teamwork makes the dream work.” “Two heads are better than one.” “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

There’s a reason why there are so many phrases about the benefits of working in a team, because it’s all true! When it comes to our everyday lives, however, do we apply and live by them? It’s easy to forget these sayings when our days sometimes get so busy that we find ourselves in a “just do it” mode instead of enlisting the help of others. Although it’s easy to get caught up in doing things yourself, it’s important to know when working with a team would be more beneficial to you and the task at hand.

Benefits of a team dynamic and how to be successful at it:

1. There’s an overflow of ideas. Actively participate without judgment.

Not everyone thinks alike and that’s great! When it comes to brainstorming new ideas for a project you’ve been assigned, the more ideas the better. Sometimes people get intimidated in group environments because they are afraid of their ideas being criticized or shut down. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and ask the questions you may internally feel are “stupid.”  No idea is a bad idea because even the “bad” ideas often lead to the best ones.

2. Opinions, opinions, opinions. Be comfortable accepting and giving feedback.

This is the best opportunity to receive valuable feedback before moving forward. Everyone won’t always agree and that’s ok. It’s important to weigh in on others’ perspectives in order to make the best decisions. You have to be comfortable enough to constructively criticize your teammates with the best intentions and to positively accept their constructive criticism as well. It should never be personal and all ideas, thoughts, and opinions are on deck. Again, no judgments. You’re all on the same team trying to accomplish the same goal.

3. Spread the responsibilities to those who are best at certain subtasks.

Just one person will not be the absolute best at everything that goes into the task at hand. Assign different subtasks to each team member who is the best qualified to handle that particular responsibility. Make sure the entire team is on the same page with what each is doing and what the next steps are. Doing so equates to the best possible end result, eliminates stress, and allows them to focus on what they are best at.

Now go team, go!

Source: Inc.com